Explosive-engine.



P ATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

L. IVERSEN. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.18,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'PATENTED JUNE 25, 1907.

IVERSEN. EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION PILEDDEOJB, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIO' UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE.

EXPLOSlVE-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters "Patent.

Patented June 25,1907.

Application filedDecember 18,1905. Serial 1%. 292,241.

To a/lLwhom it may conccrmj 'Be it known that I, LORENZ IvnRsEN,of'

Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Imvprovements in Explosive-Engines, of which the followingis a specification, reference bemg had to the accompanying drawings, Wherein-' Figure 1: is a vertical sectional ,viewof a two-cylinder engine constructed in accord ance with the invention, the movable arts being shown in their normal positions 0 rest.

' Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view on line .2

2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the oppositely acting pistons at'th'e limits of theirstroke. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view, taken on line 44 of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views.

This invention relates primarily to twocycle multiple cylinder explosive engines, and one object is to provide lmproved means for admittin the explosive charges;- also .novel means for having each entering charge preceded by a scavenger char e of air.

(A further object is to uti ize the crank case of the engine as a compressed air-reservoir, and to utilize this compressed air in forming the explosive charges, also for expelling the. exploded gases from the cylinders in advance 'of each entering fresh charge.

Still a further object is to so connect the piston of an auxiliary cylinder to the engine that it maybe utilized for starting the latter, the movement of the piston being preferably controlled by reversible valves whereby the en ine may be started in either direction. n the preferred embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary cylinder and piston are utilized as a compressor for supplying the crank-case with air, provision being made n such embodiment for having the pump either draw from the atmosphere as when operating as a compressor, or supplied with air under pressure, as when starting the engine.

With these and other objects in view, as

' will presently, appear, the invention consists in the novel features of, construction, and in the combination and-arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates ,the crank-case, and 3 the crank ---shaft.-

Seated side by side in the top of the crankcase and projecting thereinto are the elongated cylinders} and 5. These cylinders,

respectively, in conjunction with the crankcase, form cylinder-encircling chambers 6 and 7, with the cylinders provided, respectively, with lateral ports 4 and 5 opening into said chambers. The ends 8 of thecylinders are of neck-like form and open into exhaust-chamber 9. Y

The pistons IOand 11' are so connected to the cranks of shaft 3 as to work 0 posite to each otheror in reverse order. T e pistons have stem-like extensions 10 and 1], re-

spectively, which move in cylinder-necks 8, t 1

e outer ends 12 and 13 thereof being of tubular form and open at their outer extremities and having lateral orts 12 and 13, re-

spectively, each of whici in one extreme position of the piston is opento its cylinder and in the other position to exhaust-chamber 9.

On the exterior of the cylinders, chambers 6 and 7 are connected by the passage-way 14 which intersects mixing chamber 15.

The'lower ends of the cylinders are open to the crank-case as shown, and with air maintained in the latter under pressure, in manner presently to be described, the operation is'as follows: Referring to Fig. 3, piston 10 has just completed its upward or compression-stroke, and in so doing has moved above and uncovered ports 4, admitting therethrough'air under pressure from the crankcase to chamber 6 and through passage 14 to mixing chamber 15 where the fresh charge is formed for cylinder 5. Simultaneously, piston 11 has completed its explosion or power-1 stroke and inso doing has'uncovered ports 5, 'with exhaust-ports 13 within the cylinder. The forward pressure in passa e 14 and through the mixing-chamber orces ahead of it the air in chamber 7, and hence this air is the first to enter cylinder 5 through ports 5 and serves as a scavenger charge or stratum interposed. between the exploded gases and the entering i'resh charge, prevent ing the same from intermingling and avoiding danger of apremature explosion which .direct contact would cause. This arrange 'ment also prevents any'appreciable part of the fresh charge from being Wasted, the operation bein so timed that piston 11 starts on its upward or compression-stroke and closes ports 13 concurrently with the passage of the last of the exploded gases, or at the instant the interposed stratum of air is passing therethroug-h. As ports 4 close simultaneously with ports 5, chamber 6 is left filled with a voluine of air which in the charging of cylinder 4 (when the positions of the pistons are the reverse of that indicated in Fig. 3) enters the latter in advance of the fresh charge and forms the interposed scavenger charge or air stratum above described,.the propelling pressure at such time emanating from ports 5 and chamber 7 Thus, when chargin each cylinder a .volunie of fresh air is ahead 0 the explosive charge and only awaits the uncovering of the ports at the completion of the explosion or powerstroke to enter the cylinder and force out the exploded gases. For maintainin 'airainder pressure in crankcase 2-, a cylinder 16 is mounted thereon in manner similar to cylinders 4 and5, and is formed with piston or pump-chamber 17 having its piston 18 connected to a crank of shaft 3. At one side of cylinder 16 is valvecase 19 having opposite ends thereof incommunication with the crank-case, as indicated at 20, Fig. 2. At opposite ends of chamber 17 are ports 21 and 21 through which valvec-ase 19 is adapted to communicate with said chamber. YVithin casing 19 is a tube-like bushing, slotted between its ends as indicated at 22, and having grate-like ends 23. On the outer face of each of these grated ends is an outwardly opening flap-valve. 24. -Oposite ends of said bushing are of cylindrical form and provided with ports 25 in the planes of ports 21 and 21", and adaptedto cover and close these ports are the upper and lower valve-heads 26 and 26, said heads being secured to stem 27. A valve-gear and linkmotion 28 connects stem 27 with crank-shaft 3, whereby the valves are operated, and may be so manipulated when starting the engine as to cause piston 18to move either downward or upward as desired. Air for the pump enters casing 19 through side-slots 22 and passes to cylinder-port 21 or 21, according to the positions of the valves. Thus, with valve 26 above port 2-1 and valve 26 above port 21, piston 18 will at such time be moving downward and drawing air through port 21 and at the same time forcin the air beneath the piston out of port 21 am through the lower grated end 23 of the bushing and into the crank-case. At the completion of the stroke of piston 18, the positions of valves 26 and 26 are reversed by the valve ear and the operation is repeated with the valves in that position. v

The air ingress 29 for valve-case 19isprovided with an inlet 30 from the atmosphere. controlled by the normally open valve 31, As the-engine may be conveniently started by the admission of air under pressure to pump-cylinder 17, a com ressed air-connec- 'tion 32is provided, norma ly closedby sprin valve33. For operating these valves simu taneously, a rock-shaft 34 may be roiectedtherebetween and carry a lug 35 or lifting to the crank-shaft, an

and closing valve 31 and asimilar lug for depressing valve 33, shaft 34 being provided with an anm 37 or other suitable device for -operating it. The pressure within cylinders 4 and 5 and crank-case 2 are such that when the engine is stopped, the istons come to rest in approximately the half-way position 1ndicated in Fig. 1.- \Vhen'startingthe engine, if it is desired to have it operate in the direction in which it last operated, it is only-necessary to so manipulate shaft 34 as to close valve 31 and open valve 33, thus admitting air under pressure to pump-cylinder 17 which starts piston 18 and as the latter is connected to and operates with the crank-shaft, the engine-pistons are started simultaneously. As soon as the start has been made, valve 33 is closed and valve 31 opened, when cylinder 17 and piston 18 resume their normal pun 1p' ing or compressing function. If the engine is to be started in a reverse direction to that in which it last operated, it is only necessary to reverse the positions 'of valves '26 and 26 by shifting link mechanism 28, a rod 28 be-.

ing provided for that purpose.

The engine-cylinders, pump-cylinders, and valve-case are inclosed-by jacket 38 which provides space for circulation of water around all of the working parts, maintaining them at proper temperature. The ignition mechanism, which may be of any approved construction, is not shown as it forms no part of the invention.

While the auxiliary cylinder and pump are preferably'utilized as a compressor, the invention is not limited thereto, and whether so used or not, it will be understood that air under pressure may be derived from any suitable source for starting the engine. And while'the crank-case is preferably utilized as the air-reservoir, the latter may bevariously embodied and located.

The arrangement and. adaptation shown whereby the pump may be utilized both as a compressor and for starting the engine in either direction, is particularly desirable, as thereby an ,explosive engine is provided which may be quite as conveniently reversed as a steam engine, and the usual annoying and laborious cranking operation is eliminated.

' Iclaim:

1. In an explosive engine, the combination with an engine cylinder, and a piston and crank-shaft, of a compressed air reservoir communicating with the cylinder, a pump for the reservoir havin its piston connected means for admitting air from the atmosphere and air under pressure to the pump.

2. In an explosive engine, the combination with an enginecylinder, and a piston and crank-shaft, of .a compressed air reservoir communicating with t e cylinder, a pump for the reservoir having itspiston connected case having its piston connected to the shaft, 2

to the crank-shaft, reversible valve mechanism for the pump operatively connected to the crank-shaft, and means controlled by the valve mechanism for admitting air from the atmosphere and air under pressure to the pump cylinder. i i r 3. In an explosive engine, the combination with an engine cylinder, and a piston and "crank-shaft, '-o

communicating with t e cylinder, a pump a com ressed air reservoir reversing valves for the pump, and valveactuating means extending from the crankshaft.

5. In an explosive engine, the combination with a crank-case adapted to form a compressed air-reservoir for the engine, and

a crank-shaft, of an air-pump for the crankcase having its piston connected. to the crankshaft, a valve-case communicating at its ends with the crank-case and pump-cylinder and between its ends having an air-supply, valves in the valve-casefor controlling communica-- tion between the same and thepump-cylin-v der, and '.valve-operating means.

6. In an explosive engine, the combina-.

tion witha crank-case adapted to form a compressed air-reservoir for the engine, and a crank-shaft, of an air-pump having its iston connected to the crank-shaft, a va-vecase having its op osite ends in communication with the cran -case and with the pump cylinder, connected valves in the valve-case for controlling communicating between the same and the pump-cylinder, an operative connection between the. valves and the crank-shaft, and valve-reversing means.

7. In an explosive engine, a crank-case adapted to form a compressed air-reservoir, a crank-shaft, engine cylinders commumcating with the crank-case, oppositely working pistons in the cylinders, the cylinders having lateral ports at one end communicating With each other independently of the crank-ease and adapted alternately to be laced in communication with the latter y the movements of the pistons, the ports of one cylinder being open to that cylinder simultaneously with the ports of the other cylinder being open to the crank-case, an air-pump for the crankcase having its piston connected to the crank-shaft, a valve-ease having its opposite ends communicatingwith the crank-case and pump cylinder, reversible valves for the valve-case, and means for placing the valve case in communication either with the atmosphere or with a source ofair under pres sure.

'. 8. The combination of a cylinder, a piston,

a valve-case, ports at opposite ends of the cylinder open to the valve-case, a compressed air-reservoir with which opposite ends of the valve-case communicate, separated check- I valves in the valve-case each adapted to open toward said reservoir, connected valves operative in the valvecase between the checkvalves for, placing the cylinder-ends alternately in communication with the air-reservoir and with the valve-case between said port-controlling valves, and an air-inlet for the valve-case between said last mentioned valves.

LORENZ IVERSEN.

'Witnesses: J

J. M. NESBIT, ALEX. S. MABON. 

